The inaugural journey of Explora I, the newest addition to the Explora Journeys fleet, commenced on August 1st from Copenhagen (Denmark), offering a 7-night cruise through the landscapes of Lerwick, Shetland Islands, and Kirkwall, Orkney, before heading to Reykjavik, Iceland.
This northern European voyage is the first of many upcoming itineraries spanning 3 continents, all designed to embody the brand's philosophy of 'Ocean State of Mind.' These immersive experiences aim to provide guests with physical, intellectual, and spiritual rewards.
Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys, expressed his excitement in welcoming the first guests on board the extraordinary ship and embarking on the maiden journey of EXPLORA I from Copenhagen. He emphasized the outstanding European hospitality and cosmopolitan luxury that guests will experience while exploring some of the world's most remarkable destinations. This first sailing marks the beginning of a new era of transformative luxury ocean travel.
The celebration in Copenhagen on August 1st, 2023, included the traditional crest exchange, a maritime tradition to honor the ship's first visit to a destination, attended by Captain Serena Melani, Johan Hoganfalt, Deputy Port Captain, Sune Christensen, Chief Commercial Officer Copenhagen Malmo Port, Klaus Bondam, Director of Cruise Baltic and Cruise Copenhagen, and Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys.
Following her maiden journey, EXPLORA I will also visit the port of Copenhagen later in August for a sailing to Hamburg, Germany. The luxury ship will spend several weeks in Northern Europe, offering a variety of different itineraries. She will then cross the Atlantic Sea to spend the winter in North America and the Caribbean Sea before returning to Europe in Summer 2024 for voyages in the Mediterranean Sea.
Additionally, EXPLORA II is currently under construction in Italy and is set to begin service in August 2024. EXPLORA III will be the first of two LNG (liquefied natural gas) powered vessels to join the Explora Journeys' fleet, scheduled for delivery in 2026, followed by EXPLORA IV in 2027.